LAHORE: Work on the city’s three mega projects, namelySheranwala Gate flyover, Ghulab Devi underpass (Ferozepur Road) and Shahkam Chowk flyover (Link Canal Road),formally started on Sunday after the contractors mobilized machinery and labour to the sites.

LDA Director General Ahmad Aziz Tarar, during his visits to the three project sites, directed the chief engineer to complete the work on the project on time.

The Rs4.9bn Sheranwala Gate project envisages about one kilometre long flyover (perhaps the longest in the city, so far) from Naulakha Police Station to the Sheranwala Gate. The flyover, having 400 meter elevation, is expected to resolve the traffic problems on the Circular Road where around 121,421 vehicles pass daily. The cost of the project includes over Rs2bn being spent on acquisition of 22 kanal private land.

The construction of the underpass on the Ferozepur Road (Gulab Devi Hospital), costing around Rs2bn, would help resolve the traffic clogging issues on the road. The cost includes over Rs1.4bn to be spent on the civil works while remaining amount will be spent on consultancy, landscaping and shifting of services.

The Rs4.3bn Shahkam Chowk flyover project, aimed at easing the public mobility on the Link Canal Road (from Thokar Niaz Baig to Shahkam Chowk), traffic congestion at Shahkam intersection and the roads linking posh residential localities of Bahria Town, Mohlanwal Stop (Multan Road) and New Defence.

RAILWAYS: The Pakistan Railways (Lahore Division) on Saturday retrieved the state land worth over Rs33m from the land grabbers during an operation around the Mandi Ahmabad Railway Station. The team sealed 125 shops of the illegal occupants at various other stations, according to a press release.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021